Greenfield planning commission continues review of proposed mixed‑use project at 201 El Camino Real amid parking, design and CEQA concerns

The City of Greenfield Planning Commission on the evening of the meeting continued a public hearing on a design‑review application for 201 El Camino Real and asked staff to report back on whether a traffic study or initial CEQA analysis is necessary before the commission can make required findings.

Imani Harrigan, community development staff, told commissioners the proposal would reintroduce a 3,789‑square‑foot first‑floor market and four residential units in about 3,770 square feet above. Harrigan said the building has been vacant and uninhabitable since at least January 2018 and that, under the city’s municipal code, uses vacated for more than six months are treated as abandoned and extinguished. “The question for this item is if by approving the proposal as is without changes, would it be considered expanding and reestablishing a legal nonconforming use within the city?” Harrigan said.

Why it matters: commissioners heard competing public testimony and legal opinion that the application asks for multiple exceptions to the city’s zoning rules — parking, residential density, mixed‑use overlay rules and possible reestablishment of a nonconforming use — and that the record currently lacks analysis to support such exceptions. A follow‑up from staff on traffic/CEQA and other outstanding items will determine whether the hearing can move to a final decision.

Most of the public and a legal representative for…